Two Defenders Could Leave - Or Stay!

Reports in Italy recently have been suggesting that the bearded wonder Olof Mellberg is set to sign a pre-contract with Serie A club Juventus.

However Martin O'Neill is still hoping he'll stay: 'I don't know if there is anything in the Juventus link and Olof will tell me in his own time if that is the case. Players are free to make decisions here. This is an important contract for Olof. He has been here seven years and, in term of the commitment he has given since I've been here, I couldn't ask any more. He has played out of position for most of this season at right-back and just got on with it. He might think a lot of things. He might think that seven years is a long time at one club in this day and age. '

Adding: 'But I will still think, if we can come up with something which is reasonably suitable, that he might stay at Villa. But if he chooses to go, all he has to do is just let me know. We have been to-ing and fro-ing and I can understand this is an important decision for him. You have to look at a few things and it is likewise for players.'

Olof Mellberg said 'The situation is the same as before. The focus is on Aston Villa, then we will see. I understand that there are many rumours since I am out of contract at the end of the season.'

MON has also confirmed that he will be talking to another defender who could leave on a free next summer, Martin Laursen. The Denmark international has said he is in the dark and will have to look at his options but the Villa boss said he'll have talks this week. Laursen was asked after the 3-1 loss to Pompey if Villa were playing a 'dangerous game' in regards to his contract and he said: 'a bit, yes',

Martin O'Neill retorted that he has an appointment to talk to his agents this week and that it is not true they've played a dangerous game!

Oh for goodness sake, just sort it!

O'Neill said, 'The fact is that he has played all the games. If he has got a choice in this matter, then that is entirely up to him. If Martin had played one game and then missed five, played one then missed five... I am not so sure that there would be a 'dangerous game' being played.'

'With Martin this week I hope to sit down and have a chat. He has so far proved his fitness whereas this time last year, you would have had reasonable doubts about him.'

He does also concede that if both players have other options, it is possible that both will leave.

Come on Villa, these two guys are out and out quality!

Use your social login to comment on front page articles. Login using you Facebook, Twitter, Google or LinkedIn accounts and have your say!

WTF! We need to get laursen tied up before he has no choice but to look elsewhere. Who's it gonna hurt to stick him on another one year contract at the very minimum? A lot less hurt than seeing a player of his calibre leave on a free with mellberg.

With super Zat, Cahill performing miracles out on loan and hopefully best defender in the midlands Curtis Davies signing on permanently the only reason to keep these guys is as a tutor and for experience. (some of this may have been tongue in cheek)

Still think that the club are dragging their feet, and that surprises me. Olof moving on looks a distinct possibility, while ML must be seriously wondering if he has a Villa Park future. Only the club can end all of this speculation, yet they seem hesitant to do so.

This is pretty unprofessional from the club IMHO - again, you don't know what's going on behind the scenes most of the time - but clearly both parties here have come out and said that talks are not really happening at the moment. How is this not happening? Laursen has probably had MOTM awards for 5 games or so this season.....surely now we have to be looking to sign him up or we're going to look very silly and lose a truly top class player in the process. Very disappointed here. Is our club really being run as professionally as we are being led to believe? Transfers and contract negotiations don't look like they are being managed particularly well to the average joe punter (i.e. me).

Cookie Policy
At Vital Football, we along with most other modern websites use small files called 'cookies' to create the most secure, effective and functional website possible for our users. Without these files our business model, based on advertising, breaks down and we would be unable to continue to provide the services that you are here to utilise. By continuing to use this website after seeing this message, you consent to our use of cookies on this device unless you have disabled them. For full details please read our Cookie Policy which can be found here. However, if you would like to disable cookies on this device, please view our Cookie Policy which contains an opt-out tool for disabling advertising cookies. Please also visit our information pages on 'How to manage cookies' if you would also like to block all other types of cookies. Please be aware that parts of this site will not function correctly if you disable cookies.